We caught up with one of our newest vendors, Flash Photo Booth Events, to discuss their experience...
We caught up with one of our newest vendors, Flash Photo Booth Events, to discuss their experience with their last gig through Vendorspace. They were hired for an exclusive private event with Liquid I.V.during Super Bowl LVI Weekend in California! Learn more about their journey in events and their experience working with our team below:
1. What got you into running your own photobooth event service?
I’ve worked in catering for the last 12 years back home in Florida and over the years I noticed photo booths kept getting more and more popular. They get such amazing crowd engagement while also capturing memories people will cherish for a lifetime. After chatting with a few of the operators, I realized they can also be very profitable. I had always wanted to start my own business as an event vendor and owning a photo booth seemed just the perfect place to start.
2. How has your experience getting discovered by and getting booked with Vendorspace?
Stephanie, from Vendorspace reached out to me on Instagram for a very exciting event on Superbowl weekend. Not only did she link me with the client, Liquid I.V., but she worked very hard alongside me to make sure all the details came together for the client’s “Home Coming” theme photo booth. She even made these amazing custom Home Coming King and Queen photo booth props!
3. What are you most excited about for events for the rest of 2022 and beyond?
Being new to the Los Angels area, I’m most excited about getting to learn more and more about the market and building my contacts. The area is home to so many motivated and creative people like Stephaine and the folks at Vendorspace! Plus it’s just an exciting time to be in the event industry no matter where you are no that the world is ready to start celebrating again.
Check out their profile to see how you can get this photo booth activation for your next event: Flash Photo Booth Events LA
If you’re a vendor interested in booking more gigs, sign up for a free account to be considered for upcoming events at stagingsvs.com.
When it comes to planning an event, we certainly know a thing or two. Giving attention to...
When it comes to planning an event, we certainly know a thing or two. Giving attention to detail, setting things apart with flair and without a doubt, the importance of vendors. The truth is, that without support, it would be nearly impossible to pull off a successful event. For those of you who are just starting out, or for those of you who are always looking for new tools, here are a few reminders to keep in mind when planning your event and some vendors that might come in handy along the way.
The Overall Plan
Before you pick up the phone, send an email or ask the neighbor to borrow a gadget, it is important to get the basics of your events identified.
Objective: Understanding the why behind the event allows you to keep things focused and streamlined, especially when you need to start making decisions based on budget, complexity and necessity. Create a short one sentence phrase that describes the reason for your event. Make this your mantra when you are in a tough situation and oftentimes it will help you recognize what is most important.
Budget: It is exactly what it sounds like. In order to keep stress down and understand how much you have to spend, it is important not only to identify your overall budget but as many estimated details as possible. This helps you inform vendors, control your spending and wrap your project quickly.
We like to approach our budgets like a story, creating categories for consideration and then identifying line items within each.
Don’t worry if things change along the way; this guardrail will always shift and change.
*At Vendorspace we are here for all of your planning needs. Make sure to check out the tools and templates section of your profile for access to useful tools that will give you a head start
Now that you know what you are looking for, it is time to make your event uniquely yours. Check out these big bucket items and remember, there is no wrong place to start and refinement will always come naturally! Cast that net and see what you catch in your planning.
The Venue: Keep an open mind when it comes to your venue. Oftentimes this will be a larger piece of your budget but asking the right questions can also wind up saving you time and money! As you call around and discover your options, ask what the venue comes with. Do they have a sound system, lighting, tables and chairs? Do they come with the package? Can you bring in your own and shave off some cost? It’s always good to ask these questions up front, this way when you book your venue, you will also know what other required items might get checked off the list.
The Floor Plan: Consider drawing out the available spaces for your event. Think about the guest flow from entrance to restroom and everything in between. Place your tables and chairs, entertainment and catering considerations into the space so that you are prepared when things come together onsite. If you are building something more complex, think about hiring an event consultant to help you build a scaled version of your event. This will let you know how many things you can fit into the space and ensure the plan comes together.
The Theme: Another way to save time and bring together your event is to choose a theme. This can be as simple as choosing some principle colors, fonts and overall decor or can be as extravagant as a party from Outer Space or themed after your child’s favorite Netflix characters.
The theme is important to get up front because it will help guide you from invite to delivery. Knowing that time is money, a theme will also keep you focused and streamlined when you enter into shops and discussions with vendors.
Electronic Expressions: The revolution of technology allows us to create much greater impact with less effort. As you are building your events, think about the power of storytelling through digital screens/tvs, LED lighting, lasers and fog machines and projectors. The clean up is easy, the freedom to showcase more with less is powerful and it can often fill open space with entertainment. Just keep in mind that going digital requires a bit of planning so keep a jump drive handy, get your digital dimensions and get the content ready as early as you can.
We just love to bring it all together! After all of the planning, getting everyone and everything in place is where all of the hard work starts to pay off. As a general rule, inviting your vendors to the space or to a pre-event meeting where you cover off on the plan is a great way to ensure that they know the basics. Think through everything from where they will park to unload, park during the event and set themselves up. The more information you can share ahead of time, the easier your event build will be.
The Build Out: Try to think about what is most important first. In order to set your tables for example, you will need your tables and tablecloths to arrive and be put into position. It is likely that all of your deliveries and pickups will be happening through the same “doors” so when you ask vendors to arrive, give them a little cushion for load in so that they aren’t stepping on each other’s toes.
Catering: Oftentimes catering takes up more space “out of sight” than in front of your guests. Make sure to understand what they need to succeed ahead of time so that you can fill any gaps and prepare the space for their arrival to keep things smooth.
Entertainment: Whatever method of entertainment you bring in, make sure to have enough time before your guests arrive to get things set and checked. This may require talent to be onsite an hour or more before your event starts. Keep this in mind when you are discussing your expectations and agreements with vendors. If it’s a live band for example, you will want to understand how much space and power they need. What they are bringing and what they expect you to provide. You will want to be sure to do a sound check and get things set at least 30 minutes before your event starts. For playlists or simpler entertainment, make sure to get everything tested and running so that guests can experience the vibe at the right time in the right way/.
Interactive: This day and age there are no shortage of interactive options for events. From what we have seen the most popular and easy to integrate is the photo booth. WIth great flexibility built into most packages, you have the freedom to choose photo frames, green screen backgrounds and props to take a small footprint, turnkey set up and make it exclusively yours. If you are planning a family event, consider bringing in games to play or elements that last like face painting or sand sculptures. Other fun interactive elements could include characicatures, paint by number murals, or DIY arts and crafts stations.
*We have many great entertainment, catering and unique event options on Vendorspace! Make sure to explore our options, add your services and review your past bookings!
As much as we would love for the event to be over when the doors close, that just isn’t the reality. Tying the knot at the end of your event will ensure that you are able to close the book and move on to the next adventure with a clean slate.
Giving Thanks: Never underestimate the power of thank you. Event life is stressful and oftentimes requires us to sacrifice evening and weekend hours, sleep and sanity. Saying thank you to those who have come together to make the magic happen generates great energy and leaves you in a perfect position to collaborate with the same vendors for future events.
Making Payments: Getting rid of that money you had allocated to your event is the best way to get your event wrapped. Be sure that your vendors know how payment is coming and confirm that they have received payment. If you have an agreement for installments or delayed payments, make sure to mark your calendar with reminders on due dates to ensure you check it off your list.
Using resources and tools when planning your event has never been easier. At Vendorspace we want to make your event a less-stressful experience by providing you with great solutions, vendor services and planning tools. The next time you are planning an event, list your needs for free, explore our platform for inspiration and let us know if there is anything that we can do to bring your amazing event to life!
Have you ever seen art come to life? Well that's what Beyond the Monet is creating for...
Have you ever seen art come to life? Well that’s what Beyond the Monet is creating for select cities around the US. This interactive art exhibit is creatively enhanced with vendors that make this an unforgettable experience. Here’s the official description below:
Beyond the Monet is an immersive, captivating experience showcasing the brushstrokes of Monet’s artwork as it comes to life around you. In the exhibit, guests can become one with painting as projections of Monet’s work swirl around them. The beauty of the artwork is enhanced through sound effects and scenography, which will awaken not only the senses, but the mind. Beyond the Monet is an audio-visual journey through impressionism and gives a new experience for the artwork we all know. There are over 400 artworks using cutting-edge projection technology, with 4 trillion content pixels, which allows guests to become one with Monet’s work. Beyond the Monet currently has exhibits in United States and Canadian cities including: Miami, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Honolulu, Ottawa, Toronto, and Calgary.
Described as a “three part multi-sensory experience that combines music, sound effects, and projection,” Beyond the Monet brings guests on an amazing audio-visual journey. This one-of-a-kind experience is produced by Justin Paquin of Paquin Entertainment Groupand gives art activation a whole new meaning. Check some of the creative ways they leveraged vendors for their experience below:
(Images and video clips sourced from @monet.miami on Instagram)
Yoga
View full clip here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbdRD0urphS/
As if this beautiful activation wasn’t enough, they elevated the immersive experience by integrating wellness activities to entertain guests. Yoga took on a life of its own with Tifftopia & her team as they mixed moving meditation with Monet’s masterpieces dancing beautifully to a mastered symphonic core.
AV & Production
Beyond the Monet was creatively brought to life by Mathieu St-Arnaud and Félix Fradet-Faguy, and their team atNormal Studio. They transformed the traditional concept of an “art on a wall exhibit” into a 3D immersive experience with custom installations, sets, furniture, lighting, decor, and 360 projection. Artwork is literally moving around you and there are so many “instagram-able” moments to capture!
About this specialty vendor:
Pushing the boundaries of performing arts, entertainment, and public installations since 2009, Normal Studio believes in making life legendary. Using multimedia magic and fusing physical and technological elements to transform spaces into full-on immersive experiences, Normal Studio tells stories in new and different ways by reimagining what’s possible. The result is a unique adventure that sparks awe and wonder, making an unforgettable impact on people’s everyday lives.
When an experience can feed the mind, body and soul, you know you’re in for a treat. Attendees were treated to champagne, light beverages and hors d’oeuvres to enjoy this beautiful event. With over one million cubic feet of space, this was the icing on the top to make it one of the best immersive experiences we’ve seen!
These are just a few vendors that stood out to us. Check out Beyond the Monet at a city your new to experience it for yourself: https://beyondvangogh.com/
You can build this same experience on Vendorspace by searching for these specific services to enhance your upcoming event. Take a look around and get creative with your event planning. We can’t wait to see what you create!
If you’re planning a marketplace, trade show or expo, chances are you may need some extra help...
If you’re planning a marketplace, trade show or expo, chances are you may need some extra help filling your booths. Even the biggest of conferences and festivals still invest time and effort into recruiting the right vendors for their big event.
There are so many factors to consider when hunting for exhibitors: Do they fit the theme of the event? Are they the right fit for our audience? Are they offering a similar service or product to an exhibitor we already have? and so forth and so on. With so much to plan on your plate, sometimes your vendor advertising falls short and here are a few reasons why:
You don’t know where to find them.
Marketplace vendors are businesses that want to sell or share their products with your audience. They’re not sitting around on Instagram waiting for your event. You have to find them. Sometimes that means discovering them at another event, or connecting with them in a LinkedIn group. Try thinking outside the box to locate your ideal vendor.
You’re sharing your event in the wrong places.
Because you don’t know where to find them, you’re probably putting your event in all the wrong places. While it makes sense to advertise your exhibitor and booth opportunities on ticket sites, that’s just what they are — ticket sites. Majority of the traffic is from attendees that want to buy a ticket to attend, not to buy a $500 booth. There may be times where you get lucky but other times, you may get frustration days before your event.
You’re not offering mutual benefits.
Let’s be honest, vendors are the real life of the party and they can bring energy and excitement to any space. So start treating them as such! Is your pricing fair for vendors? Can they recoup the money spent on your booth while they’re at your event? Will they get the traffic they need to secure a potential client? Vendors invest in your event; you should invest in their experience and make sure its worth it. The right package thats valuable and affordable will never be denied!
Next time you’re in a bind looking for vendors, here are some steps you can consider:
Start with past events that are similar to yours. Exhibitors will be more receptive to joining your event since they’ve already done one like it.
Think like a vendor. Search unique groups on Facebook, Meetup, LinkedIn or even local organizations that share the interests of your vendors.
Post your event on Vendorspace. The easiest choice of them all 🙂 Our platform is designed to connect you with the right vendors in the right area that actually have interest in your event. No guessing whether they’ll be a good fit because we vet every vendor on your behalf. Just post your event and watch the bids come in.
If you have a marketplace event coming up and need some help finding vendors, sign up for a free account and start getting matched with vendors today!
As we close out Women's History Month, we are leaving you with some inspiration from a female...
As we close out Women’s History Month, we are leaving you with some inspiration from a female vendor who is killing the industry! Meet Carmen Rad, the founder and president of CR&A Custom Inc.
What began in 1993 as a two-person, custom-embroidery clothing business in downtown Los Angeles, has been transformed into a large-format, digital printing company. Today, they specialize in made-to-order advertising products like billboards, event booths, and displays that wrap around buildings. Her clients range from the Lakers and Clippers to Paramount Pictures and Microsoft Theater.
About
I am the Founder/President of CR&A Custom – a large format digital printer with over 27 years of experience producing and installing all types of signage from retractable banners to wall murals to vehicle wraps to billboards. A combination of an award winning, in-house design team and owning the latest state-of-the-art equipment available, allows us to assist customers from concept to manufacturing to installation. Our service capabilities reach all 50 U.S. states, Canada, South & Central America, plus the Caribbean.
Getting Started
While I was 4 months pregnant, and extremely frustrated by the difficulty of getting paid by my employer at the time, I self-funded the launch of CR&A out of my home. Over the last 2 decades, I have spearheaded the growth of CR&A to 43 employees and we now operate out of 34,000 square foot headquarters in the heart of LA that exceeds all City of LA environmental requirements.
Company Milestones
• From small businesses to non-profits to Fortune 500 Corporations, we have served nearly 2,000 clients.
• In 2013, CR&A exceeded $5 million in annual revenues.
• Only certified Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprise in the U.S. with large format
printing capabilities.
• First printer in the U.S. to purchase the eco-friendly HP Latex 3000 – a water based printer, with
• CR&A featured on Fox News for success as a booming Latina-owned business despite economic
hardships.
Community Involvement
I am the former President for the LA Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). With far-reaching clout and impact, NAWBO is a one-stop resource to propelling women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.
I also participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. In 2009, I was a member of the Speedo team that raised approximately $498,000, the second largest amount in California.
Carmen is definitely a female that fuels events and we’re so excited to have her company in our network! Connect with her at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenrad/
As we closeout Black History Month, we leave you with a presentation from August Spree on "Intentional...
As we closeout Black History Month, we leave you with a presentation from August Spree on “Intentional Inclusion: Creating More Opportunity for Diversity in Vendors” that first aired at The Vendor Summit 2021.
This session is particularly important this month because it reminds planners and organizers of ways to change our thinking and be intentional about seeking out vendors and businesses owned by historically marginalized people for the purpose of building and supporting a diverse community.
Watch the full session below and check out our list of black-owned vendor recommendations. This is just a reference list to get you started but hopefully gets you thinking in the right direction. For more black-owned vendors to work with, visit our marketplace.
David Stample is a trained chef and certified Reiki practitioner who believes in the healing power of food. Throughout his career, David has been guided by the idea of “culinary philanthropy,” his belief that food is a powerful medium through which we can take care of ourselves and others. His passion for community involvement and bringing people together around the table has informed his work as a chef and culinary instructor, as well as in food banks, and other nonprofit organizations and purpose-driven food brands.
Venue 56 is a rich, elegant facility that can be used for: Weddings, Family Reunions, Class Reunions, Retirement Parties, Corporate functions, Church Services, training classes, and Concerts
Fansub is an all-in-one tool for fan engagement, live streaming, and event ticketing. Fansub was founded in Atlanta in 2020 as the simplest way for creators and organizers to create special, ticketed experiences for their fans — no matter where they are in the world.
PinkSugar is a vegan cupcakery preparing cupcakes fresh to order! All of our cupcakes are deliciously prepared fresh to order using all-natural, plant based, vegan ingredients. We refrain from using any dairy, and animal by products in our desserts!
Kamon Sherriff is an Atlanta-based visual artist; painter, illustrator, and designer. Throughout his life, Kamon has always had an interest in drawing and creating. But after suffering a spinal cord injury in 2010 while in school for software engineering, he found himself with a lot more time to focus on art. After a journey into creating music, Kamon has settled into and found his purpose through creating visual artwork.
Melas Media, LLC. is an innovatively ground-breaking media production company created in 2010 under the Melas division of Myriad Entertainment Group, LLC. Boasting a diverse portfolio of photography, video production, and design projects, Melas Media is poised to be one of the world’s cutting edge media companies. Centered around developing captivating creative content and high definition videos with high quality special fx, Melas Media caters to all industries looking for effective and strategic marketing campaigns.
Pretty Luxe Picnics & Affairs Atlanta is a full service luxury picnic company, that specializes in creating luxurious and upscale picnics settings and beautiful table-scapes for any gathering, whether large or intimate. We love nothing more than creating beautiful designs for each of our clients, from a sophisticated high-class afternoon tea picnic with the girls to a romantic & intimate evening that ignites the love between two people.
As a DJ/Audio-Visual Technician/Music Producer, DJ-HD can creatively combine Sound, Lighting, and Video to get you the outcome that you’re in search of. “My aim is to combine skill, technology, interactivity, fun, and quality to provide a professional service for all of my clients. Being passionate about the craft of DJ’ing, assisting others with their important moments, and getting a kick out of seeing people have fun, is what makes this the best profession (for me anyway).
TableMade is your one stop shop for all your entertaining needs. Our assortment is expansive and unique. We have everything from 24K lined charger plates to specialty dyed glassware. Simply rent from our collection of curated collections and return once the party is over! So, call an old friend. Treat your loved one to an at-home dinner for two or dream up the most amazing tablescape at your reception. Bring together the gals, or guys, and reconnect at the table.
Machee Creates is a creative business owned by Machee Kelly. Machee is a Washington DC native and creative enthusiast. Since her youth, creating has been her passion. In high school, she would design fashion illustrations and transform them into garments, but soon realized she enjoyed illustrating more than sewing textiles. Her entrepreneurial journey began in college, as she worked to create extra income for education expenses and her daughter. During that time she focused on print design and
Amara Ikeji, the woman behind the lens of Amarachi Ikeji Photography, first picked up a camera during a fashion internship in college and hasn’t put one down since. She serves clients in New York City, Philadelphia, and Europe and strives to capture “stylish moments of love and beauty.” She has been featured BRIDES, New York Times & more and was also named Best Wedding Photographer in America by Brides.
GetPlated is locally owned by a husband and wife team: Keyon & Alexandria Hammond! This duo shares a love for the kitchen and family. Keyon is the leader of the squad, a classically trained chef with an edge that brings bold flavors, refinement, approachability and more than 12 years experience as a platinum country club chef.
The Jam Band is a Port Saint Lucie, FL-based wedding band that services the coasts of Florida and beyond. Owner Jamilia Anderson, otherwise known as Jamilia Hall, started this band in 2013. Since then, this group of talented performers has thrilled wedding guests with a high standard of live musical entertainment.
We are Daneka and Karadai we are 2 sisters and qualified fitness coaches who have come together to bring soca power fitness to you, we run fitness sessions and instruct online to power music that gets people moving.
We are a photo booth and photo installation company that specializes in brand and corporate events. The company is run by a photographer who has a high level of attention to details, highly organized, with the creative expertise to develop the best photo experience for your event. We have digital booths, virtual booths, printing booths, event photography, and 360 video booths.
Encaptivating venue is perfect for: Bridal Shower, Baby Shower, Corporate Meetings, Pop Up Shops, Private Dinners, Rehearsal Dinner Tailgate party, Wedding Reception, Wedding Ceremony and so much more!
Great photographers visually reflect truth, inform or educate audiences by making images which provoke thought and promote “Life-Stylized” as well as narratives of hope, beauty and culture rather than highlight ugliness or mockery. Axum Creative is for community-conscious businesses using social-first strategies to redefine the negative visual landscape, represent identity and cultivate community. We champion advocacy for equity in education, entertainment and social justice sectors by crafting distinct photographic images which result in positively shifting societal perceptions of the mis-represented.
Lesia is a freelance photographer beginning her journey on September 1, 2018. She has been an integral part of grand openings, engagement sessions, graduations, maternity shoots, etc. where the clients are most full of JOY! We pride ourselves on quality customer service and lightening fast return on images.
Quinn Conyers has over 16 years of in-person and virtual public speaking and event hosting experience. She has served as an engaging Event Emcee for organizations such as Nike, Tedx, Black Speakers Network, Maryland Public Television annual Women’s Conference, and the Better Business Bureau to name a few. Quinn’s superpower is her E-Factor which includes a beautiful blend of Energy, Engagement, and Excitement resulting in the transformation of an average event into an epic experience.
A velvety mix of Erykah Badu & Billie Holiday paired with the cool grooves of her 007 on bass” is how one reviewer described Acute Inflections, New York’s sultry duo led by a former Broadway singer. They can often be found entertaining their clients (United Nations, Mercedes-Benz, etc.) at high-end events across the country. They have shared the stage with Jennifer Hudson, Keith Urban, and other notable artists at some of these events. Their albums are always favorites on the jazz charts, and their shows are both fun and enchanting. Just prepare yourself, because these sassy artists love engaging their audiences!
Promotional Products are tools used to market, create visibility and generate conversation about a Brand. Branding is about what you’re known for and who you are. It’s about the style in which you market yourself and how your distinct from everyone else. Think of a Corporate Gift as not just a gift but an investment in your Brand! Unlike other advertising media, Promotional Products are much more than simply a way to publicize a business or Brand. Their physical presence and long-lasting usefulness increase recipients’ engagement with the team, reinforcing the logo or message through multiple impressions.
Nywele Luxe is a luxury haircare company where your crown is our inspiration. We believe that there is a better, easier, and more affordable way to keep your protective styles and natural hair preserved, fresh, and most importantly long-lasting with our long bonnets, shower caps, and refresher kits. Our hair products refresh, soothe, stimulate and speak to all senses.
Make customizable metal tumblers, keychains, pens, and badge holders. I make bariatric gowns that are customizable w/the option to add vinyl images 3D mask and scrub caps
We are a black and woman owned book publisher dedicated to developing and promoting books with a focus on diversity and inclusion. We also offer self-publishing coaching services.
The Emerald Effect Co. was started from a love a crafting and creativity. The month of May is near and dear to my family. From this an EMERALD was born. The Emerald is a symbol of inspiration, patience, embodies unity, compassion & unconditional love. Wouldn’t you like to experience The Emerald Effect?
Mommies Beauty is the creator and maker of the organic rice water, hair oil, shampoo and conditioner. Made with love and care, our products ensures and promotes blood circulation and hair growth.
Oil On My Hands’ creates organic ingredient items to soothe the body and soul. Organic ingredients such as Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil to name a few that will help nourish and moisturize your skin with their natural properties. Oil On My Hands’ products are handmade with love for every “Beautifully Flawed” person! We hope that you love our organic-made to order products just as much as our family and friends.
Ways to support these vendors:
Book them for an upcoming event.
Refer them to an organizer or agency that plans events.
Follow, like and share their work.
If you’ve worked with them, leave them a review.
If they are product based, buy something!
Invite them to speak, sponsor or vend at your event where they can meet potential clients and customers.
These are just a few examples but there are several ways to support. Let’s be more intentional with our vendor relationships and help make events a more inclusive industry.
In the spirit of love for Valentine's Day, today’s feature vendors can create any experience your heart...
In the spirit of love for Valentine’s Day, today’s feature vendors can create any experience your heart desires. Whether you’re planning a last-minute celebration for a loved one or creating a love-inspired activation at your next event, check out these vendors to pull together your best event experience yet!
Each week during Black History Month, we’ll feature 7 new black-owned businesses that have services and solutions for your events. These vendors range from chefs and musicians to digital platforms and exhibitors…and everything in between!
We believe it’s important to diversify your event team and encourage organizers to hire black vendors for contracts and gigs . Vendorspace works establish these relationships by promoting black-owned businesses that are ready to work!
Pretty Luxe Picnics & Affairs Atlanta is a full service luxury picnic company, that specializes in creating luxurious and upscale picnics settings and beautiful table-scapes for any gathering, whether large or intimate. We love nothing more than creating beautiful designs for each of our clients, from a sophisticated high-class afternoon tea picnic with the girls to a romantic & intimate evening that ignites the love between two people.
The team at Pretty Luxe have an engraved belief and appreciation for living life extraordinarily, celebrating life out loud because yes you are royalty!! living in the moment and creating magical and extraordinary memories with the people we love and those that makes us the happiest.
IG: @prettyluxepicnics
Ideal Media Category: DJ, Audio Visual Solutions, Draping, Uplighting, Photobooth
As a DJ/Audio-Visual Technician/Music Producer, DJ-HD can creatively combine Sound, Lighting, and Video to get you the outcome that you’re in search of. “My aim is to combine skill, technology, interactivity, fun, and quality to provide a professional service for all of my clients. Being passionate about the craft of DJ’ing, assisting others with their important moments, and getting a kick out of seeing people have fun, is what makes this the best profession (for me anyway). ”
IG: @idealmediaevents
Table Made Category: Decor, Curated Tableware, Table-scaping, Event RENTAL
TableMade is your one stop shop for all your entertaining needs. Our assortment is expansive and unique. We have everything from 24K lined charger plates to specialty dyed glassware. Simply rent from our collection of curated collections and return once the party is over! So, call an old friend. Treat your loved one to an at-home dinner for two or dream up the most amazing tablescape at your reception. Bring together the gals, or guys, and reconnect at the table.
IG: @tablemadeco
Machee Creates Category: Art & Stationery
Machee Creates is a creative business owned by Machee Kelly. Machee is a Washington DC native and creative enthusiast. Since her youth, creating has been her passion. In high school, she would design fashion illustrations and transform them into garments, but soon realized she enjoyed illustrating more than sewing textiles. Her entrepreneurial journey began in college, as she worked to create extra income for education expenses and her daughter. During that time she focused on print design and decor for events.
Machee then took her passion to the classroom, teaching graphic design to elementary and middle school youth, inspiring young people to discover their own passion. As a young professional she’s designed for schools, non-profits, and most frequently local women-owned businesses.
Today Machee creates art and products inspired by women, their beauty and versatility, and colors that evoke joy.
IG: @macheecreates
Amarachi Ikeji Photography Category: Photographer
Amara Ikeji, the woman behind the lens of Amarachi Ikeji Photography, first picked up a camera during a fashion internship in college and hasn’t put one down since. She serves clients in New York City, Philadelphia, and Europe and strives to capture “stylish moments of love and beauty.” She has been featured BRIDES, New York Times & more and was also named Best Wedding Photographer in America by Brides.
IG: @amarachiikejiphotography
Get Plated Category: Catering
GetPlated is locally owned by a husband and wife team: Keyon & Alexandria Hammond! This duo shares a love for the kitchen and family. Keyon is the leader of the squad, a classically trained chef with an edge that brings bold flavors, refinement, approachability and more than 12 years experience as a platinum country club chef.
Alexandria brings the distinct eye for details; from the logistics to the plates for every event. Her keen ear for listening has proven invaluable to bringing our private and corporate clients’ vision to fruition. Have a crazy idea-she’s definitely your girl to chat with.
Together they bring a well-defined palette, fun culinary attitude and most importantly love to GetPlated. The guy loved the food! The girl loved the guy! Together they created GetPlated!
IG: @getplateddc
The Jam Band Category: Musicians, Entertainment
The Jam Band is a Port Saint Lucie, FL-based wedding band that services the coasts of Florida and beyond. Owner Jamilia Anderson, otherwise known as Jamilia Hall, started this band in 2013. Since then, this group of talented performers has thrilled wedding guests with a high standard of live musical entertainment.
Jamilia began her entertainment career in Miami, FL, at The Edwin Holland School of Dance. She followed her passion to NYC to train to the standard she dreamed about. Jamilia has performed in music videos, a hip-hop company, and on cruises as a production singer. Gathering together experienced and diverse music professionals, Jamilia created The Jam Band.
Wedding services offered by The Jam Band include live music, DJ service, MC service, and sound and lighting equipment. These musical professionals include vocalists, pianists, guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, brass instrumentalists, and percussionists. You may draw on their talents for your wedding ceremony and reception as well as your rehearsal dinner and after-party.
IG: @thejamband
Ways to support these vendors:
Book them for an upcoming event.
Refer them to an organizer or agency that plans events.
Follow, like and share their work.
If you’ve worked with them, leave them a review.
If they are product based, buy something!
Invite them to speak, sponsor or vend at your event where they can meet potential clients and customers.
These are just a few examples but there are several ways to support. Let’s be more intentional with our vendor relationships and help make events a more inclusive industry.
If you know are black vendor in events or know one we should feature, send us an email at: hello@stagingsvs.com
In honor of Black History Month, we're highlighting 28 black owned vendors you should consider for your...
In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting 28 black owned vendors you should consider for your next event.
Each week, we’ll feature 7 black event businesses that have services and solutions you should know about. These vendors range from chefs and musicians to digital platforms and exhibitors…and everything in between!
We believe it’s important to diversify your event team and encourage organizers to hire black vendors for more contracts and gigs. Vendorspace works to foster these vendor relationships by promoting black-owned businesses in our platform that are ready to work!
David Stample is a trained chef and certified Reiki practitioner who believes in the healing power of food. Throughout his career, David has been guided by the idea of “culinary philanthropy,” his belief that food is a powerful medium through which we can take care of ourselves and others.
His passion for community involvement and bringing people together around the table has informed his work as a chef and culinary instructor, as well as in food banks, and other nonprofit organizations and purpose-driven food brands.
IG: @chefdavidstample
Venue 56 Event Spaces Category: Venues
Venue 56 is a rich, elegant facility that can be used for: Weddings, Family Reunions, Class Reunions, Retirement Parties, Corporate functions, Church Services, training classes, and Concerts. Venue 56 is currently accepting bookings for the 2022 event season.
Fansub is an all-in-one tool for fan engagement, live streaming, and event ticketing. Fansub was founded in Atlanta in 2020 as the simplest way for creators and organizers to create special, ticketed experiences for their fans — no matter where they are in the world.
PinkSugar is a vegan cupcakery preparing cupcakes fresh to order! All of our cupcakes are deliciously prepared fresh to order using all-natural, plant based, vegan ingredients. We refrain from using any dairy, and animal by products in our desserts!
IG: @pinksugar
Kamon Sherriff Category: Artist, Illustrator, Art Vendor
Kamon Sherriff is an Atlanta-based visual artist; painter, illustrator, and designer. Throughout his life, Kamon has always had an interest in drawing and creating. But after suffering a spinal cord injury in 2010 while in school for software engineering, he found himself with a lot more time to focus on art. After a journey into creating music, Kamon has settled into and found his purpose through creating visual artwork.
We create organic ingredient items to soothe the body and soul. Organic ingredients such as Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil to name a few that will help nourish and moisturize your skin with their natural properties.
Oil On My Hands’ products are handmade with love for every “Beautifully Flawed” person! We hope that you love our organic-made to order products just as much as our family and friends. IG: @oilonmyhands
Melas Media Category: Photographer/Videographer/ Audio-Visual
Melas Media, LLC. is an innovatively ground-breaking media production company created in 2010 under the Melas division of Myriad Entertainment Group, LLC. Boasting a diverse portfolio of photography, video production, and design projects, Melas Media is poised to be one of the world’s cutting edge media companies. Centered around developing captivating creative content and high definition videos with high quality special fx, Melas Media caters to all industries looking for effective and strategic marketing campaigns. From runways to mixers, we want to help you capture the moment or show people what they missed
IG: @melasmedia
Here are some ways you can support these vendors:
Book them for an upcoming event.
Refer them to an organizer or agency that plans events.
Follow, like and share their work.
Leave them a review.
Invite them to speak, sponsor or vend at your event to find new customers/clients.
If you are a black vendor in events or know one we should feature, send us an email at: hello@stagingsvs.com
About AWCAA: AWCAA works to reduce the burden of cancer on African immigrant women and their families...
AboutAWCAA:
AWCAA works to reduce the burden of cancer on African immigrant women and their families by providing equal access to screening and care for all African women in the US and abroad. While we provide programs and services for African women cancer patients and survivors, in the Washington, Metropolitan area; we are equally committed to spreading our mission to African countries through our medical missions.
Challenge:
AWCAA hosts an annual fundraiser called Ladies First Breakfast to raise money for their organization. Each year, they invite donors for a moving celebration to highlight their work in the community. In 2021, Ladies First was scheduled to be a hybrid event but due to growing concerns around COVID and cancer patients, the board of directors decided to stay safe and make their signature event completely virtual 3 weeks before the scheduled date. This required flipping the agenda and finding vendors that bring their services online.
Solution:
Virtual vendors turned this local fundraiser into a global event.
AWCAA used Vendorspace to book two motivational speakers, a DJ, magician and fitness instructors for their virtual event experience. They leveraged these features from the Vendorspace platform to make their event a success:
Lead Generation: AWCAA took advantage of getting vendor leads through our platform. Instead of having their staff doing a blind search for potential vendors; they shared the event opportunity on Vendorspace and attracted bids from pre-vetted, qualified vendors. This helped them make quicker decisions from a pool of vendors interested in their event.
Diversity Filters: It was important for AWCAA to have speakers and event partners that reflected the community they serve. With a click of a button, they were able to identify vendors with specific diversity tags that matched their event. This led to finding unique vendors who participated from Mexico, Nigeria, London, and Georgia!
Budget Options: Finding a vendor you like is one thing; sealing the deal is another. AWCAA found it extremely helpful to have budget options built into the platform that allows you to communicate your desired spend for the event. By communicating their budget upfront, they were able to find vendors willing to work with them at the price point they can afford.
Results:
AWCAA raised a record-breaking amount of $64,363.58 – the most they’ve raised on any fundraiser! The event was designed as a virtual telethon with only 4 hours to raise $50,000! They leveraged the virtual vendors they selected for entertainment, special performances, motivational talks and exceeded their goals!
From the beginning to end, the vendors brought creative performances and presentations that complimented the mission of the event. The experience they created with the vendors was so moving, donations kept pouring in by the minute. Congratulations to AWCAA for a successful fundraiser!
Who says virtual events have to be boring?! There’s a variety of vendors you can use to...
Who says virtual events have to be boring?! There’s a variety of vendors you can use to enhance your next online event. Here are some of our favorite ways to add experience and engagement with vendors from Vendorspace:
Group Games: Try interactive gaming that allows your audience to work together.
Vendor Recommendation:@WeBooth.This crowd favorite delivers engaging, multi-user experiences, where people interact together in real time and create shareable content. Experiences are tailored to your event and company, including collaborative photo booths, competitive games, watch and launch parties, team building activities, and more!
DIY Kits: Send your guests a DIY kit to create a beverage or dish during the event.
Vendor Recommendation: @MansaTeaoffers DIY kits for events where attendees can make and brew their own teas. They celebrate and connect your remote team with a virtual tea tasting event and tea packages delivered to their door! Led by founder and tea sommelier, their 1-hour LIVE tea workshops are fun, engaging, and inclusive. Where guests walk away with practical tips on tea brewing and tasting!
Wellness Activities: Add yoga, therapy or mediation to your event to allow people a space to de-stress
Vendor Recommendation:@sisterfitness is an amazing sister duo from London that has brought a lot of energy to our virtual events this year. You can always trust them for some good sweat & soca vibes. These two sisters are qualified fitness coaches who have come together to bring fun fitness sessions and instruct online to power music that gets people moving.
Entertainment: Add a live performance from a comedian, poet of band to make things more exciting.
Vendor Recommendation:@acuteinflectionscreates a beautiful soundtrack for any event. Their virtual performance will make you feel like you’re live at a concert…the perfect source of entertainment for your guests.
5. New Environments: Create your own virtual mall or aquarium that breaks the traditional setting.
Vendor Recommendation:@wikipoint is a hidden gem! If you were at #TVS21 then you saw them in action with our digital playground. They can build almost any virtual environment you desire to bring some fun elements to your next online event.
A glimpse of the 3D digital playground Wikipoint designed for The Vendor Summit 2021.
Check out more experience vendors on Vendorspace or reach out if you want more recommendations!
What’s your favorite experience from a virtual event?
We're kicking off season 2 of The Checklist with our favorite Canadian event boss, Karlena Waugh of...
We’re kicking off season 2 of The Checklist with our favorite Canadian event boss, Karlena Waugh of Mini K Creations and The Biz Mixer! With events shifting back in-person, we asked the most important question: how does this affect event planning and production moving forward and what should we expect? Check out this episode to hear a different event perspective and get her three tips for preparing for the next phase of events.
In this episode, we discussed:
How event planning has changed
The importance of planning your event experience in stages
Predictions on Q3 & Q4 for events
Listen to the full episode here:
About Karlena Waugh
Recipient of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2020 and Nominated for the Young Women in Business “Favorite Local Women Entrepreneur’s List” and the 28th Annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, Karlena is a millennial entrepreneur who is passionate about community building and collaboration. With a diverse background in community building, Karlena utilizes these skills to effortlessly build rapport with clients, create a sense of community, and nurture strong business relationships. Through her event planning company (Mini K Creations), Karlena aims to create memorable experiences for her clients and spaces for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and build relationships across industries. She is also a community leader of a monthly event and group of creatives and entrepreneurs @thebizmixer focused on resource-sharing, collaboration and peer-learning. Multi-faceted by nature, Karlena is also a speaker and host, as seen on CBC Our Toronto, FuckUp Nights Toronto, University of Waterloo’s Career Perspectives, Xero Accounting’s Small Business Series, and The Black Business Report (to name a few!) When Karlena isn’t producing events, she is a facilitator with an organization, Girls of Destiny, whose aim is to provide mentorship for teenage girls within the community.
Producing events in the virtual world certainly has its advantages, but navigating the waters in the vast...
Producing events in the virtual world certainly has its advantages, but navigating the waters in the vast sea of possibilities can be overwhelming. At Vendorspace, we are here to support your pursuit and have listed some of our learnings for your consideration. Happy planning!
Clearly understand your objectives
Just like in a physical event, understanding the objectives will be critical. It is important to filter all of your concepts through your objectives so that you stay on point and put your energies toward hitting your target. Here are a few starting objectives and some things to consider.
To Make Money: If the goal of your event is to make a profit, it is important that you create a “pie of possibility” and monitor the data along the way. Prepare to make adjustments and be heavily involved in the marketing of the event to potential ticket purchasers.
Don’t assume that ticket sales alone will be your money maker
Don’t wait too long to find sponsors
Create a campaign that differentiates itself, driving excitement and purpose to your audience
Be aggressive against your objectives. Don’t assume that if you post your event on EventBrite that people will come. Direct outreach, targeted communications and constant monitoring will all be useful in boosting your event attendees.
To Strengthen Your Network & Grow Awareness: If you are looking to make a good impression, it is important not to take on a virtual event on your own. Remember, you grow your awareness not just at your event but as you are planning your event. Every touch point is an opportunity to engage and create an impression.
Delegate Responsibilities to a Supportive Team
From speaker coordination to technical management, from graphic design and partnerships, a virtual event takes a village. Ensure you are leveraging your network to support your event.
Incorporate your story in a well presented and professional manner
Create commercial spots that can bookend panels or speakers
Create visually appealing, cohesive event slides that introduce speakers, contests, promotions and future events
Feature your team proudly and boldly, with bios, links to social channels and company websites and webpages
Create a communication strategy (and pre-write your content) to allow your team to highlight and emphasize opportunities that interest your audience
Follow up with attendees, prize winners and those that didn’t make it post-event
Use the stage as a platform of conversation. Yes, the stage should have a solid run of show, but keeping things open to impromptu moments, when something worth sharing comes up, can create an approachable authentic element to your event.
Whatever your objective might be, list it out on a post-it and stick it to your computer or write it on the top of your team whiteboard to stand prominently throughout the process. Rest assured there will be distractions that make their way into your planning basket. If the items you are considering do not directly support your objectives then put them aside.
Rehearse your speakers and your content
With the way that the virtual event space has been created, the line between backstage and on-stage is significant. Once the stage is live and begins broadcasting, it is rare to be able to stop the broadcast and go dark for rehearsal. It is inevitable that participants and speakers will have questions and anxiety around how they will be integrated into your event. Here are a few things we have learned:
Speakers cannot practice sharing their screen backstage
The only way to test your content is to practice at a pre-event time. When sharing content both visual and audible components should be tested. There could be compatibility issues with the operating system (ie all speakers should be tied in on Chrome, not IE or Firefox)
Before broadcasting your content, check your formatting and spelling. Some presenters create their content in PowerPoint and then convert it to Google Presentation at the last second. Font styles and sizes as well as color pallets can shift significantly so it is important to double check before the presentation. Our recommendation is to double check your spelling, your links and your format and then export your presentation to PDF to lock in the look and feel.
Bandwidth issues
At almost every virtual event, someone will experience bandwidth problems. There are a few things that can be done to create a game plan but it’s always best to find out who might be the most in need before the event
For those experiencing broadcast issues, the first troubleshoot would be to have them “kill their video” and speak only through audio. If this happens, it is always great to have a “speaker slide” for each segment or panel on standby to throw up on the screen while they are speaking
If the problem still persists, you may need to shift gears quickly. If it is a panel discussion with one person having issues, move on within 5 minutes of start time and troubleshoot offline with the individual having troubles. If a solo speaker is unable to join due to technical issues, here are a few other suggestions:
Entertain your audience with a raffle, some trivia or other hosted mini-event
Send your guests to the event expo (if you have one) and let them know you will make announcements through chat on the status of the stage
Throw up a “let’s take a quick break” slide and throw up some energetic music to keep the audience engaged
For events with many speakers or exhibitors, you may want to have two or more rehearsals, this way everyone is able to test getting onstage, presenting content or running the event activity. It is best to run your rehearsal a few days prior to your event so that you can work out any major kinks that come up. Panels should be rehearsed together if possible and it also allows speakers to get to know each other. Remember, every touch point matters so keeping spirits high and engaging through your rehearsal can be a real win!
These practices have helped us get ahead, we hope they help you too.
Pre-Record Complex Components
As virtual events continue to develop and push the envelope of creativity, there is a magic tool that assures things continue to run smoothly. It is the power of pre-recording content. Depending on how you are broadcasting, there are several ways in which pre-recorded content can be shared.
What to consider pre-recording: Anything that could be considered an event within an event could be pre-recorded. Understanding that there is finess required to integrate pre-recorded content into a session, it is not something that we recommend doing for all of the portions but it is a great way to keep the quality of the show up and the stress levels down. The rule of thumb is: for activities with loud sound, high energy, multiple instruments, multiple camera angles, multiple performers, it is strongly suggested that pre-recording is done. The chance of mishap both technically and physically is much higher and when things don’t go right, it can create an unpleasant experience for the audience.
Consider Precording:
Fashions Shows
High Impact Fitness Courses
Live Musical Performances
Solo Singing
Full Band
Demos with loud sound
Sharing Options:
Embed in a slide or frame: From Google Presentations you can embed a video that will play within the slide or frame you are playing it from. This gives you a clean and easy way to add basic information to the video for guests to takeaway (ie, IG handles, artist names, website info)
Play Full Screen: When you go to share your content, there are options that allow you to bring in content from other sources. Play with these tabs and approaches to find what works best for you.
When integrating pre-recorded content, put 10 seconds on the front end so that you can hit play and let the system “catch” your video before getting into the content.
If audio is an important part of your content, make sure the video is not muted.
If pre-recording is something that you are really not interested in doing there are ways to deliver high-quality content to your audience. This typically requires bringing in a technical production team, which can increase your event budget, so make sure that if you are going down that road you put some funds into a line item for on-site production. We also highly recommend a separate rehearsal for any high energy activity looking to make it to the stage.
Consider the Experience from Start to Finish, Leverage What Exists
When you are planning an event, there are several elements that you can leverage to make your event more pleasant for both those attending your events and those participating in your events. Each time you engage with either of your audience groups, it is important to deliver focused and energetic pieces of information. Even more so, as the event gets underway, it is important to consider what your audience might need or want and to put the right solutions in place to maximize the time and energy spent on putting together your event.
For your attendees: Not only do you want people to attend your event but once they arrive, you want them to stay, network and contribute to the overall event energy. Here are some simple ways to do so:
Integrate an On-Screen Host: It is inevitable that event organizers can get overwhelmed once their event gets underway. Having an event host that is clear on the objectives, rehearsed in their delivery and clear on their agenda takes off the pressure of those that could be networking and engaging with their audience in a 1:1 way. Event hosts are known for keeping things fun, well-paced and informed throughout the course of your event.
(Check out Cameron Matthews?)
Integrate a Host in the Chat: What better way to greet your audience and engage in conversation than having someone assigned to engaging with the event guests through the chats? Better yet, have your Chat Host monitoring the backend to see where traffic is moving, pop into break out sessions and vendor expos to see what’s happening and promote and share key learnings directly out to the audience! Chat hosts are also great for pasting speaker social handles, event giveaway and contest information and updates in real time as you move through your event.
Enhance the Environment: Your event can take on a more vibrant and professional appeal by adding in just a few fun components that engage your guests. What’s even more exciting is that these elements can also be used through pre-event communications to get guests excited about the event and what they might gain from their attendance.
Enhancement considerations:
Music: Some virtual platforms (like meetyoo) allow you to incorporate music in through their already existing site. There are also plenty of sites that allow you to find royalty free music (Free Royalty-Free Music: Hooksounds, Ben Sound, Purple Planet, CC Mixter) that allow you to embed sounds that can live on in post-event content without worry of licensing. For private events, introducing playlists through Spotify and Soundcloud can be a great option. *Keep in mind that when sharing audio it is typically shared from the source and picked up through your computer speakers, meaning whoever is playing it can also be heard if they are speaking or typing in the room.
Using the stage as an introduction to other opportunities: It has been shown that the main stage is where the most traffic is consistently pulled. To support your audience journey, it can be helpful to bring up those doing breakouts or running expo booths to introduce themselves, their product or their area of focus on stage throughout the event.
Gaming: Sometimes the audience needs incentive to participate. Working with your sponsors, vendors or partners to create gaming opportunities can push your guests to areas they wouldn’t typically visit, speak up and participate in conversations or become a stronger part of your community. This could be as simple as hiding secret letters throughout your event and having guests track them down, to hosting a virtual photo booth and rewarding participants for sharing their images out on their social feeds to promote the event.
For your Speakers and Exhibitors: There is nothing more important than delivering a positive experience for those creating the collective of your event. This includes informing and supporting your community to enhance their opportunities to be showcased. Here are a few considerations:
Pre-Event Social: Chances are that prior to your event, many of the speakers, panelists and exhibitors have never met each other. Breaking the ice with a simple but effective pre-event social event can help to build community within the group that will be bringing your event to life. This can include interactive elements of “building a beverage” and toasting together, a quick round of speed networking or allowing panelists to get to know each other before their on screen conversation. Keep in mind panelists, speakers and entrepreneurs are full of high energy and are rarely camera shy. Why not bring them together and strengthen your community before the event even gets underway?
During Event Promotion: Leverage the Main Stage as a place to put up advertisements around books, workshops and tools that your participants have created. Perhaps in exchange for the promotion, they will give away an item to raffle to the audience. You can also include names, social handles and images of your participants and their brands on your event website, event collateral and post-event content.
Guidance In Activation: One thing we have learned is that the more present you are at a virtual event, the more likely you are to find success. This applies to everyone who might participate. Here are a few highlights to consider:
Speakers and Panelists:
Encourage speakers and panelists to stick around for as much of the event as possible. Your participation typically gets you an event ticket and the information that is being shared out might be more valuable than you think.
Offer speakers and panelists opportunities to lead a breakout session that can be focused more on topics that they are controlling or items they would like to promote.
Offer speakers and panelists an opportunity to get interviewed for a blog post or broadcast prior to the event to build momentum around their area of focus
Exhibitors:
A major recommendation from the Vendorspace team is to have exhibitors live at their booth. We have seen staggering differences in participation rates when the booth is unattended vs attended. No one can tell your story better than you.
Beyond being present at your booth, Vendorspace also recommends activating your booth with how-to workshops, gaming opportunities and special guests. The more energy brought to this space the better.
Last but certainly not least, exhibitors are oftentimes small business owners, inventors, and creative leaders in their industry. Consider bringing them onstage to discuss how their product is relevant to the event theme. Too often we keep our vendors in their “expo space” and forget that they can bring great insights on to the main stage.
As we continue down the path of virtual and hybrid events, there will be a continuous stream of elements that we can leverage to build better and more impactful moments. To stay posted on ways to enhance your experiences, join the stagingsvs.commmunity today!
Why event planners and vendors love Vendorspace:
List multiple services or events under one account in a clean and organized manner
Receive notifications of posted events and services that match your needs
Submit bids to events and organizers can request for information straight from the source
Manage your communications and receive notifications directly to your email!
It’s completely free to join!
If you’re ready today, we welcome you to sign up directly here! (stagingsvs.com)
Want to learn more about Vendorspace?! Join us for our monthly demo on June 24th at 11am PST/2pm EST: RSVP HERE
Is 1:1 more your style? We are happy to hop on a quick call to show you a demo of how it works.Just select a time here: Vendorspace Demo
So often we underestimate how powerful perception can be as we slave away to create an amazing...
So often we underestimate how powerful perception can be as we slave away to create an amazing event. With so many outlets developing that allow us to bring new solutions to life, it is important to remember that at the core, we are all humans, consuming our environment with the resources that have been built into our bodies to help us enjoy our experiences with the mind.
In our full guide, we breakdown lots of great additional details to consider when building an event that allows all of our senses to experience what we create. For the full guide, download hereor get it free by signing up for Vendorspace today!
Tip: Keep in mind that some attendees at your event may not have all of these senses in the way we normally think about them. Considering all of the ways our bodies engage with our environment ensures that the event is pleasing to everyone.
Tip: Vendorspace is a vendor and event organizer community that is growing quickly! Our goal is to get the solutions that vendors provide in front of those planning their next event. Head to www.stagingsvs.com and add in your skills and experience to get discovered today!
Credit: Eleonora Patricola/Unsplash
Sight
When planning an event, this sense is likely the one that is most top of mind whether in the colors we choose, the textures we incorporate or the dimensions you introduce to your environment. All of it lends itself to the story you are telling.
As you are in the planning phase, you want to start by asking yourself one simple question, “what feeling am I trying to create within my attendees?”
Is it warm and inviting? It is full of energy and intrigue? Do you want them to laugh? Do you want them to cry?
There is no wrong answer, but you should most certainly know where you are trying to take your attendees and incorporate these objectives into the decisions you make within your space.
Here are a few areas to focus on when you are considering what guests and attendees see at your event.
Credit: Sreehari Devadas/Unsplash
Lighting
Ambers and hues of red are known to be more complimentary to us. Blues and greens tend to leave us feeling a bit cold, and fluorescent white can feel flat and stark.
Best times and areas to integrate upgraded lighting:
Photo Booths or Step & Repeats
Boosting the ambers in this area will help your guests feel attractive, increasing the chances of photo sharing
Black and white can also be a fun way to keep things classy
Walls: Indoor or Outdoor
A fast way to make a big impact is to throw light on large walls. For even more impact, think about moving lights that can throw motion into the lights for added dynamic.
Trees: Give your space dimension and create whimsy by integrating twinkle lights or LEDs into the trees surrounding your event space. Make sure to consider how they will get power. *if you borrow extension cords, make sure to label them as they come in to get them back to where they came from quickly and without confusion *battery operated lights are also a popular option
Entrance: Oftentimes guests don’t know where to go to get to their event.
Consider adding a gobo (projected logo or message). Metal gobos and considerably less expensive than glass gobos. Depending on the design, they can range anywhere from $45-$200. Make sure you add in the Leko (type of light, usually around $50/light) that you would need to insert the gobo into.
Add a warm trail of lights to guide them to your event. Consider using thick glass bowls (Dollar Tree usually has great options) and short reusable LED candles. If you do use decorative bags along your path, make sure to weigh them down with some stones to ensure they don’t fly away at sunset.
The eye loves a good story. Remember to keep things as connected as possible. The best train of thought is to keep it simple. Choose 2-3 colors one 1-2 logo styles to incorporate and integrate them tastefully throughout the event space.
Digital Displays: Use a tv or project onto a wall and create a slideshow of images telling your story or display a static image
Traditional Displays:
Step and Repeat
Banners
Branded Napkins
Digital Logos (Pre & Post)
Decal the Bar, The Reception Kiosk, the DJ Desk …
Non-Traditional
Floor decals
Hanging logos
Tattoos
Photo Booth Props
Green Screen
Credit: DesignThusiasm
Decor
Use what you already have or borrow something from your neighbor, your church or other local resource
Integrate reusable fabrics to create dynamic looks that cover walls or dress your overhead space
Flowers always bring life and happiness to an event. What type of greenery would work best?
Low-Cost solutions can often be integrated, especially if your event ties into a national holiday. Check out 99c stores or the Dollar Tree for great solutions at a low price.
The audio track of your event should hum and buzz with energy. Creating an environment that encourages conversation and commentary can perk the guest experience.
Adding a soundtrack: Adding music to your event helps support your theme and break the ice for your guests, driving conversation and energy into the space.
Speakers: If you are an event planner, consider bringing some speakers into your inventory.
The Sounds: How long will your event be? 2 hours, 4 hours, 6? Making a playlist can cover the length of your event can take stress off of your shoulders.
Sound Effects: If your party is heavily themed, say Halloween or Mardi Gras, you will want to think about sound effects that take it up a notch.
Nothing satisfies the soul more than the right bite at the right time. With so many unique ways to savor the flavor, consider bringing in a taste based experience for your guests to enjoy.
Theming food to your event could be just the thing.
Get Creative
A Beer Tasting Experience
A Make Your Own Whiskey Experience
What’s Behind the Spice?
Do you have a service that caters to providing these solutions? Well get over to Vendorspace today and set up your account! We will spread the word and work to get you recruited to amazing events that can use your services!
They say nothing sparks nostalgia like a memory enhanced through the nose. From the moment your guests arrive you have the opportunity to welcome them through the smells in the air.
Another great list for you, with additional details on each point available for just a dollar! Head to ourdollar download page and make it yours today!
Candles
AromaTherapy
Perfumes/Colognes
Credit: Malin Bobeck Tadaa-Tactile Refuge
Touch
Create a fun and fabulous space by creating interactive components that change when you engage with them or create an unexpected reaction
Make it cozy and comfortable with soft, fuzzy elements in places where guests sit and engage (especially great for outdoor environments)
Create a destress zones where guests can find a different mood that lets them take a breath and come out smiling.
The sky truly is the limit, and we here at Vendorspace have a million more ideas. There are way more tips and ideas in the full guide! Grab that dollar downloador join the stagingsvs.commmunity for full access to guides and other great resources! No strings attached!
For a quick conversation with our team on how to amplify your event, reach out to events@stagingsvs.com and book an event planning consultation with us. As always, we are here to help. Happy planning.
Its finally time to start sharing your event. All your speakers, vendors and talent are confirmed and...
Its finally time to start sharing your event. All your speakers, vendors and talent are confirmed and you’re ready to go. A general rule of thumb for event marketing is to share your event on multiple platforms for more exposure. The more eyes that see it, they higher the likelihood of attending your event.
Just one small issue, your flyer looks great on Eventbrite but its cut off on Facebook events, Linkedin Events, and just about every other platform you can think of. You’re stuck having to sacrifice which part of the flyer is more appealing to crop.
With all that work you put in, you shouldn’t be stuck trying to fix your flyers at the last minute. Thats why we created this Event Marketing Cheat Sheet. An easy guide to help you share your flyers and event marketing assets across multiple platforms.
Size matters with events and its easier to provide your designer with all the dimensions they need to create “ready-to-use” assets instead of “ready-to-fix” assets. This sheet list dimensions for all the important images you’ll need to share your event anywhere.
Sidenote: There are resizing platforms you can use as well that will help you get your graphics ready (but you’ll still need this cheat sheet!). Try Snappa orCanva Pro to quickly resize your graphics.
Vendorspace members canlog into download a free copy (Or join Vendorspace for free here!)
There's no doubt technology plays a huge role in running a business. With millions of apps creating...
There’s no doubt technology plays a huge role in running a business. With millions of apps creating business hacks, choosing the right ones can be overwhelming. Here are a few that stand out:
When you’re a business owner, juggling social media can be a lot. Remembering to post on all your accounts may be a bit tedious but luckily Hootsuite provides a solution to schedule and automatically post your content. Instead of hoping from Twitter to Instagram, simply add all your accounts in their dashboard and schedule for the day, week or even month! Their free plan is perfect for small business owners.
Canva is the perfect tool for easily creating designs for all your business needs. Their stunning templates save you a ton of time; all you have to do is replace the text and designs are yours! Create a Facebook ad, company brochure or even a powerpoint presentation in minutes. Its a free must have for any business owner.
Long gone are the days where you have to print a contract, sign, then scan and send back to your client. That used to be such a cumbersome process especially if you didn’t have a printer or scanner handy. Now, there’s Docusign – an app that allows you to electronically manage your contracts and agreements. Simply upload the document and add the recipients email to sign or complete the document fields. This is a huge timesaver for any business and it also saves trees 🙂
Now that you have an easier way to sign documents, how about an easier way to scan them? Scanbot is a neat tool that you can download on your phone to professionally scan any document. Easy to use and super quick! Scan all your most important docs from receipts to reports from anywhere so long as you have this app.
We don’t know how the world will operate after the pandemic but we do know it’s important for every business to adapt a contactless payment system. Square allows you to do just that even if you don’t have brick and mortar. Their readers can be used on any device to take credit card information so you can sell your product or service on the go.
Email automation and management has never been easier. If you are developing a community or simply want to keep in contact with your customers, then Mailchimp is a must-have. Upload and organize all your email contacts into one place and mass send newsletters, greetings, and more. The best part is they offer a free plan for up to 2000 email contacts; the perfect tool to help communicate with your audience. The drag-and-drop feature makes it easy to create beautiful templates even if you don’t have a degree in graphic design.
Who would have ever predicted that video conferencing would be the main form of communication in 2020. Whether you like it or not, it is. The best thing you can do for your business is adjust to the times and get a Zoom account so you can keep in touch with your clients as needed. Zoom is a great solution for conducting online webinars to discuss your product or service, client meetings to demonstrate your strategies or even virtual so you can stay connected with your community.
As a small business owner, you’re micro-managing a lot of projects. Having a solution that helps you list and organize each stage of your project will be the best thing that ever happened to your business. Trello does just that. Create your boards, manage tasks, add deadlines, and even assign co-workers or employees to certain projects. Easily plan your social media campaign with others or list all the people and resources needed for your next launch. Trello is very flexible and even offers a free plan to get you started in no time.
Staying on top of your taxes as a small business is very important but you don’t have to be an accounting expert to keep your books together. With Quickbooks, you can sync the software with your business account to keep a log of all your expenses and income. It saves you so much time than running through account statements like before. You can even use the tool for payroll. An all in one financial system to empower any business.
With everyone working from home, it might be a little difficult to stay focused. RescueTime allows you to automatically track how much time you spend on websites, apps, and documents to improve productivity. Imagine having this tool for your employees. It’s a great way to understand how many hours are being spent where so you can analyze whether it’s the best use of time. Rescue your time to run a more efficient business.
On the next episode of The Checklist, we had the opportunity to talk to Olivia F. Scott...
On the next episode of The Checklist, we had the opportunity to talk to Olivia F. Scott of Omerge Alliances about how to sustain brand experience in the virtual space.
As a marketing strategist with 26 years of experience in marketing and public relations, Olivia has an extensive background with Essencefest and companies like Live Nation, VIBE Magazine, and Carol’s Daughter.
In this episode, we discussed:
How event marketing has been affected
How to maintain brand consistency online and offline
What brand partnerships will look like in the future
Listen to the full episode here:
About Olivia F. Scott
Olivia F. Scott is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Omerge Alliances, an integrated marketing management consultancy. Delivering brand strategy, marketing planning, media buying & wellness experience brand solutions, Omerge’s current and previous clients include ESSENCE Festival, ESSENCE, Media Storm, IMAN Cosmetics, Andre Walker Hair, BRWL Studios, Urban Skin Rx, among others.
Olivia has served as an Adjunct Professor since 2009, teaching a range of classes including Competitive Strategy, Media Management, Events Marketing and Partnership Marketing courses at New York University and Institute of Audio Research. Olivia has also been served as an expert marketing witness for Morgan & Morgan Law Firm identifying unethical marketing practices in the beauty industry.
Olivia’s professional experiences include serving as Chief Marketing Officer, Carol’s Daughter; Associate Publisher/Head of Marketing, VIBE Magazine; Vice President, Alliances, Live Nation; Director of Partnership Marketing, iN DEMAND TV, in addition to account management roles at DDB, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, Draft and Frankel agencies.
Olivia has led strategy for wellness & entertainment experiences for ESSENCE Festival since 2014, and also creates community & workplace wellness experiences via her Freedom At The Mat platform. Olivia earned a Bachelor’s of Journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Master’s of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. She resides in Harlem, NYC and New Orleans.
About Omerge Alliances
With grace, leadership & respect, Omerge Alliances leads their beauty, health and wellness brand clients through the marketing management process, providing services such as: live & virtual experiential strategy & event creation; direct-to-consumer advertising, including Google AdWords & Facebook/Instagram ads; marketing strategy & media planning; and influencer marketing.
Here at Vendorspace, we’re committed to supporting vendors and organizers during these uncertain times. While the event...
Here at Vendorspace, we’re committed to supporting vendors and organizers during these uncertain times. While the event industry is still trying to find new ways to host events, we strongly encourage our members to adhere to safety regulations by WHO, CDC, and federal and local governments.
Although there are a lot of cancellations and adjustments to our everyday gatherings, we want you to stay inspired with creative ways you can still do events virtually. Our goal is to serve as a resource to connect you with unique virtual event opportunities and gigs, as well as find virtual event services to make your next online event the talk of the internet!
Things to remember:
When you find a virtual event or gig, ask as many questions as you need to before committing. This is new for all of us and we want you to feel comfortable participating in your online event.
Research the platform that will be used. There’s nothing worse than finding out the technology the event is using is not compatible with your set up. Research and make sure you can still provide quality service with no glitches.
For organizers, try something new by adding a vendor to your virtual event. We don’t know when this pandemic might end so let’s spice up our virtual events and support our local businesses. Supporting vendors now goes a long way to making sure they are available post-COVID to support your in-person event. Consider a host, singer, entertainer, decorator, audio/visual production or DJ for your next event.
We will continue to update this post with resources for planning virtual and socially-distant events and ways vendors can get involved. Check back regularly for new posts.
Event Assistance
Our team is on standby to help with your event needs. Please send us a message if you need additional assistance or have any questions or feedback for improving your experience with Vendorspace.
Live events will come back stronger than ever, we just have to work smarter until then.
This episode, we had the opportunity to talk to Michael Sabani of Swoogo Virtual regarding the status...
This episode, we had the opportunity to talk to Michael Sabani of Swoogo Virtual regarding the status of events and how companies nowadays are adjusting to virtual/hybrid events.
With over 10 years of experience in event tech and product marketing, he shares his thoughts on the integration of virtual events and discusses how companies are currently adapting to these changes.
In this episode, we discussed:
The need for virtual events
Why innovation in event tech is important
Why hybrid events are the future
Listen to the full episode here:
About Michael Sabani
A former Disney Cast Member, Michael has a passion for creating amazing customer experiences from the first moment they interact with a product to the last. With almost a decade developing, marketing, and supporting both virtual meeting and event software under his belt, Michael has taken on the role of Director of Swoogo Virtual and is focused on delivering a personalized, exceptional experience to prospects, customers, and anyone who encounters the Swoogo brand. From developing and managing his own 501(c)(3) nonprofit to editing his own Star Wars prequel cut, Michael is never afraid to roll up his sleeves to create something awesome— an attitude he applies daily in the event tech space.
About Swoogo
Hearty technology, lightweight package. Swoogo combines serious event software with a platform designed for regular humans and a price structure built for modern events. What’s not to love? They specialize in: Event Registration ▪ Event Websites ▪ Event Software ▪ Event Apps ▪ Event Marketing ▪ Event Planning ▪ Event Management
Vendors are a part of the DNA of events. Can you imagine a conference without a videographer?...
Vendors are a part of the DNA of events.
Can you imagine a conference without a videographer?
A brunch without a caterer?
A company retreat without tables and chairs?
Just because we can’t gather in large groups right now doesn’t mean that vendors should be forgotten when organizing groups online.
There are many advantages to advertising during virtual events. Here are some of them:
Continue to monetize in times of economic despair.
Let’s face it – we are living in an uncertain and challenging financial climate. Thus, staying active in your industry is imperative, not only for your current monetary situation but also for your future.
When you advertise during virtual events you are able to bring in the same income (or near the same) that you were getting before. Technology has enabled many workers to stay relevant during this quarantine and vendors should be included in that category. Take advantage of the internet and get your money!
Reach a potentially larger audience
Have you been watching any of the “versus” music challenges on Instagram? It’s when two popular artists pit their songs against each other – in a light-hearted, fun manner – to judge whose music is better.
Whether you’ve caught one or not, the “attendees” reach in the hundreds of thousands, far more than any concert hall could hold in person. Imagine if your brand was plugged during one of these events? Can you say “ka-ching”?
While it is more likely to get marketing exposure during a virtual business event, digital gatherings simply reach a wider audience, especially during these times, and your brand could benefit from the larger “crowd”. Don’t underestimate the power of what virtual events can do for your company.
Perfect a new strategy to implement when things go back to normal
At some point, things will get back to the way they were before Covid-19. Face masks will come off and “non-essential” businesses will re-open. But this doesn’t mean that virtual events will go away. In fact, they may even become more popular due to the fear of Corona returning and the comfortability we have acclimated to. When this quarantine ends, part of our new normal will include digital events.
Why not get a jump on the market and figure out now how to master the digital space? With the way things are going now, this is a tool for your toolbox that will continue to pay off long into the future.
An entrepreneur once said that if you want to be rich then find out which direction the world is going and get there first. You already know digital events are the new wave. Learn to ride it now so that you are ahead of the pack when others figure it out, too.
We sincerely hope you are able to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity. Which digital events will you pitch your services to this month?
On the next episode of The Checklist, we spoke with Curt Johnson of Four Moon Productions, about...
On the next episode of The Checklist, we spoke with Curt Johnson of Four Moon Productions, about “How To Pivot As A Vendor.” He broke down his experience with his company pivoting early in the game and how it has helped them stay afloat.
In this episode, we discussed:
The future of events and how it will impact vendors
The ups and downs of pivoting into the digital world as a vendor
Tips to transition into virtual events
Listen to the full episode here:
About Curt Johnson
Curt Johnson is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. He relocated to Las Vegas where he began his career in events as a driver transporting production equipment. Twenty years later, after working in various positions in the A/V field, he currently serves as the National Sales Director for Four Moon Productions. Using his knowledge of all facets of the corporate production industry, he assists his clients with meeting their needs big or small. He has developed and produced many groundbreaking events touting locations around the globe with thousands of attendees, managing everything from break out rooms to general sessions and each small detail in between. Bringing his talents to the tech space, Curt has had the pleasure of partnering with Four Moon’s host of clients among them Zoom, Blavity, Great Place to Work, and Afrotech to name a few. In his spare time Curt enjoys dancing, quality time with family, and anything that involves great food.
About Four Moon Productions
Four Moon Productions is a full-service audio/visual production company. From set design and content creation to streaming and everything in between, Four Moon is a one-stop solution for live corporate events. Four Moon is a completely mobile production company, servicing all corners of the globe. Learn more at: https://www.fourmoon.com/
Who said you couldn’t capture your memories during online events? They don’t all have to be participants passively looking at a screen for hours. Now you can memorialize the moments with an awesome photo company that services virtual events, in addition to other events.
Built for virtual marketing campaigns, webinars, trainings, keynotes, and more, Outsnapped outpaces its competition by adapting to the times and taking advantage of a growing need in the events industry. Featuring everything from snap still photos, animated GIFs, boomerang looping videos, and customizable overlays, your photos are instantly sharable via email, text, and your favorite social media platform.
The best part is that you don’t need to download an app on your phone to use it! It can work directly from your mobile device or computer.
Gone are the days of stuffing generic pens, stress balls, pen pads into plastic bags for hours. Most event attendees do not care for them past the event itself and they can take up so much time to prepare. Go digital instead!
Fanomena allows you to include important information about the event, upload PDFs and include rich media, such as videos and integration with Google maps. You can also create coupons and discount vouchers to be used at different times.
The best part is that you can send your marketing material privately to registered attendees or create a public link which can be shared widely.
Teambuilding is essential for team success and playing games is essential to teambuilding. When you can’t play games together in-person, try them online with The GoGame.
The GoGame sits at the intersection of technology, exploration, and creativity. After 10 years in the business, they have perfected games such as hunting for clues Amazing-Race style and shooting 80s-style music videos that engage everyone from marketers and lawyers to engineers and teachers.
The best part is that when you book with them you are assigned a Game Producer who helps organize your game and the best method to administer it.
As you can see by this list, there are many ways to engage online vendors at your next event. Try out one of our suggestions or let us know of another that you recommend.
We're so excited to introduce our new podcast, The Checklist, where we talk with event experts about...
We’re so excited to introduce our new podcast, The Checklist, where we talk with event experts about the state of event culture and tips to elevate your next event.
On our first episode, we spoke with Enovia Bedford of Vettdeck, about “How To Attract Money To Your Events.” She broke down the do’s and don’ts of exploring sponsorship with the current state of events and how that applies to attracting money for your online events.
In this episode, we discussed:
The most important things to include in your sponsorship deck
The best time to approach a sponsor (considering the sponsorship cycle)
How to find the right brands to work with for your event
Listen to the full episode here. Other ways to listen: Youtube | Soundcloud | iTunes
You can learn more about Enovia by following her on Instagram: @novey.b @vettdeck
About Vettdeck
Vettdeck is a sponsorship matching platform that simplifies and streamlines the sponsorship process for event organizers and brands. Visit them online at: www.vettdeck.com
If you’re new to Vendorspace, you might not be aware of all the ways our platform could...
If you’re new to Vendorspace, you might not be aware of all the ways our platform could benefit your business.
Here are some helpful tips to get you started:
Find vendors you need for your event.
From DJs to videographers, Vendorspace is an online hub of geo-friendly vendors eager to assist your event. Our vendors are asked to set up full profiles to help you vet the right partner for you. You can view their event history, products or services, and check customer reviews. This will help you feel confident trusting our vendors because our community was built to support events. No matter your city or state, you can count on Vendorspace to provide a local directory of vendors to make your event successful.
Tip for Vendors: Fill in as much info as possible to make your profile stand out! It’s a lot easier to know whether you’re the right fit for an event if they know what you can do.
Find events to participate in as a vendor.
Searching ticketing sites and social media is a thing of the past! Now you can use Vendorspace to find events that cater to you.
Interested in a women’s event targeting a specific age range? You can find it here.
What about a conference for startup entrepreneurs? We have that, too.
If you’re looking for the best online events to vend at right now, you’ve come to the right place.
Vendors now have access to a database of events that lists vendor opportunities in any city, based on audience, date, type of event, and vendor fees. Next time you’re looking for an event to sell your services or support your company’s new marketing campaign, try Vendorspace!
Tips for Vendors: If you still have questions about the event, shoot the organizer a message! You can easily chat with an event organizer before confirming your spot in the event.
Stay booked with Gigs-On-Demand.
We’re living in a gig society. Work is not as stable as it used to be so sometimes business slows down. Luckily, you can stay flexible and find work in the events sector with our new feature, Gigs-On-Demand.
This feature allows vendors to offer services to organizers who need a vendor in a hurry. The vendor gets to keep working and the organizer is able to save their event by adding a qualified vendor. It’s a win-win.
For vendors looking to stay booked this feature is your best friend. You could waste time on search engines and general listing sites or become the hero to organizers who are desperately seeking you out.
Tips For Vendors: Check back often! Since the life of events can be so unpredictable, someone is always looking for a vendor to step at the last minute. That vendor could be you!
Monetize your event.
After tickets and sponsorship, vendors are the #1 way to monetize your events. With vendors, you have an opportunity to reach a specific audience in one place and brands want to take advantage of that. We created the platform for you to connect with them.
The same way you’d set up your event to sell tickets is the same way you’d set up your event on Vendorspace to sell vendor opportunities. From booths to signage, you can now directly market your exhibitor and advertising options to your target vendors.
Tip for Organizers: Clearly outline all the opportunities you have available at your event. There’s no limit on how many you can add. If you have a lot to offer, just submit your website link or deck and our team can help you get set up.
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits of doing business on Vendorspace. We are the world’s top platform to connect vendors and event organizers online. Our mission is to help make great events happen. Now more than ever, we are committed to helping event professionals monetize their events and get back to business amid COVID-19.
Create a free account today to learn how we can help you create or participate in an awesome event!
Human beings are social creatures, thus the value of face-to-face interaction can never be diminished. However, in...
Human beings are social creatures, thus the value of face-to-face interaction can never be diminished. However, in the times of Corona and the digital revolution, virtual events are becoming just as important – and business savvy – as the traditional in-person interaction.
But with so many companies employing this strategy, how can you make your virtual event stand out?
Here are some suggestions:
Add vendors to your event
There is nothing like a vendor to add spice to an already tasty event palate. Including a comedian or singer into your schedule can break up monotonous areas of your programming and even invite a new audience to support your event. Moreover, virtual vendors are often more cost-friendly than hiring them in-person. At the same time, you wouldn’t necessarily have to cut back on your profits if the event is marketed well with a lot of attendees. This scenario can be a major win for your company.
Try virtual games.
We are never too old to play games. In fact, according to Science Daily, video games can help to improve mental cognition in people of all ages, from youngsters to the elderly. But what does this mean for your virtual event? Well, for one, gaming is fun! It’s a great way to keep your audience engaged and enjoying themselves. Also, gaming can be used as a marketing tool for your company, positioned as an analogy for your particular theme. Lastly, gaming is another way to add a vendor to your event (see #1 for these benefits). Some gaming companies have gone virtual and offer bingo and other games to play over Zoom and webinar platforms. Find a game that suits your audience and have fun!
Use Video Production
Along with the digital revolution came huge advances in media production tools. Use this to your advantage in your virtual event. When people can literally shoot videos from their phones nowadays, there is no reason why you can’t find creative video footage to add to your event. Video, like games, help to keep your audience engaged and can break up monotonous moments. In addition, video marketing is becoming the norm in business, thus customers are not only used to seeing videos but even expect it. Try hiring a video marketing specialist or editor for ideas on which videos would be best to include in your program.
Do a #Challenge
Who can forget the #IceBucketChallenge of 2015 or the #DontRushChallenge currently sweeping the web? These internet phenomenons are entertaining, amusing, and so wide-spread that even celebrities join in and national news organizations cover them. Wouldn’t you like to get free publicity from a celebrity or national news organization? Of course you would. So start a challenge either before, during, or after your event to get people talking and sharing your message.
These are just a few ways to make your virtual events great. With new events popping up everyday, you should try some of them to see which fits your style or needs. You never know, CNN or Brad Pitt could end up promoting your event.
Tell us some of your ideas to make virtual events great in the comments below.
Entrepreneurs start businesses to be leaders in their industries. They do their research, gain competitive advantage, and...
Entrepreneurs start businesses to be leaders in their industries.
They do their research, gain competitive advantage, and position their brand to stand out from the pack.
However, while this approach may get you started out on the right foot it doesn’t ensure your long-term success.
To be successful long-term you need to take care of your existing customers, continually invite new ones into your orbit, and solve communication and organizational issues along the way. Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt to have some fun and enjoy your work while you’re at it!
Luckily, engaging in events can take care of all of this.
If you haven’t thought about what events could do for your brand, here are five benefits they can offer.
Events Gather Your Tribe For a Common Cause
Cambridge dictionary loosely defines a tribe as “a largefamily or other group that someone belongs to”. For our sake, let’s think of your customers as your tribe.
When your tribe comes out to support your event they make face-to-face connections, not only between your team and them but also between each other. This builds camaraderie and gets people speaking the same language, which in turn builds trust in your brand and a stronger collective identity.
Tribes with a strong collective identity work hard to make sure they all survive and thrive.
Events Create An Opportunity To Grow Your Tribe
Tribes grow every day. You don’t need to be born into one to join one. And it’s no secret that larger tribes dominate society and the global marketplace.
When you contribute to events that speaks to more than your already established following, it creates an opportunity to gain new followers.
These newbies can test out your brand through the event experience and, if impressed, they will surely sign up to be part of your family.
But don’t worry, for those you are still unsure about you after spending a few hours with your brand, you can always ask them for their email address to send them more Information later.
Events Leverage Your Brand’s Creativity And Resourcefulness
Events show both newcomers and existing customers what your brand is capable of. From creative decorations to creative collaborations, they use their occurance to bring teams together and bring out the best in one another.
Every tribe needs to evolve and that comes through new ideas and experiences. Events are the perfect way to either test these out or reinforce the ones you already have.
When your team develops your brand gets a boost, making it strategically advantageous to better compete with your competitors.
Events Create Buzz
Everybody wants to hang with the cool kids. And in this day of social media, your event can show everyone just how cool your brand is. From live streams to event pics, video clips to good ole’ fashion word-of-mouth marketing, events create a buzz for you that is simply invaluable.
They get people talking about your brand and wanting to get in on the action. This can not only attract new clients but also help to keep the ones you already have. Moreover, both segments can provide you with valuable customer feedback, all at the fraction of your traditional marketing budget.
Events Can Generate Revenue For You
All businesses want to make money. When you have an event you are literally inviting money into your domain and asking it to stay.
Whether you upsell, meet future business partners, or cater to returning customers, events are a great way to keep attracting money to your brand.
Events Are Fun! (BONUS)
Businesses want to make money, maybe even better the world, but more than anything they want to enjoy the work they do.
If you have ever organized an event you know that the planning stage can be gruesome. But there is nothing like seeing all of your hard work come to fruition.
Smiling faces. Affirmative handshakes. Meeting new people and showing appreciation to those who have supported you from day one.
Events are the best way to party with a purpose.
All in all, whether you book an online or in-person event, they can provide great value to your brand. Not only can you make money, grow your tribe, and impress your existing family members, you can also get a lot of enjoyment out of them!
What event do you plan to take part in next? Let us know in the comments below.
There is a great quote I like about the nature of charity. It says, “Helping one person...
There is a great quote I like about the nature of charity.
It says, “Helping one person might not change the world, but it might change the world for one person.”
In these trying times, as much as we would like to ease the struggle of so many who are hurting, there are just too many people who are in need of assistance right now. Luckily, there are some great resources out there that could mean the world to a few vendors.
Take a look at the list below and try to get assistance where you can.
Good luck and please share this information with others who you think might benefit from it!
When life takes an unexpected turn, The Meetings Industry Fund is there with an immediate lifeline. We provide confidential financial assistance to those individuals in crisis who are directly involved in the planning, execution, delivery and support of meetings.
SBA PPP loans provide financial assistance to small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19 to help them keep employees on their payrolls. OnDeck is an approved SBA lender for PPP loans and is participating along with other banks and financial institutions.
The HealthWell Foundation just announced a COVID-19 Fund that provides up to $250 in assistance with ancillary costs associated with COVID-19. Grants awarded through the fund will provide reimbursement assistance to at risk or quarantined individuals for delivered food, medication, telehealth copays and transportation costs associated with COVID-19.
Live Nation, the world’s live entertainment company, in collaboration with the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation, a non-profit organization,has pledged an initial $5 million dollars and will match an additional $5 million pledged by artists, fans, and employees to support live music crews who have lost work during the Coronavirus.
SCORE has served as America’s premier source of free business mentoring and education. As a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE provides support to entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops and educational resources. Mentors are available to participate in remote mentoring sessions via phone, email, and video.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will team up for a sixth virtual National Small Business Town Hall to help small business owners alike navigate the programs that are available to them.
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs. They have local chapters around the nation providing support for women entrepreneurs.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has made the effort to compile a comprehensive guide to managing anxiety and/or depression during these times.
The ever-important World Health Organization has provided a 6-page document outlining factors and elements to look for while experiencing this pandemic.
A national non-profit, Mental Health America, has created a self-screening test for individuals to take to determine where they stand on the mental health spectrum.
GymCube membership unlocks the resources you need to lose fat, tone up, increase fitness, gain strength and lead a healthier, happier lifestyle. Burn calories at home with online exercise classes like HIIT, Abs, Combat, Dance (similar to Zumba), Indoor Spin Cycling, Yoga and Pilates.
Get access to unlimited yoga, fitness, and meditation classes for only $20 a month, featuring the likes of Dylan Werner, Sri Dharma Mittra, and Melini Jesudason.
I hope you find something useful on this list. Remember, we are all in this together. Please share any additional resources you think our community can benefit from.
Relationships are tricky. On one hand, you get to spend time with someone who cares about you....
Relationships are tricky.
On one hand, you get to spend time with someone who cares about you. They believe in your potential, look past your flaws, and give support when you need it.
On the other hand, they can be clingy, not reliable, or even worse, take your presence for granted (don’t you just hate that?).
This is why choosing the right vendors for your event is so important.
Relationships are the perfect analogy for events – you have a common interest, an exchange of value, and both parties are in service to one another.
So, who you choose to experience this with is critical.
You want vendors who share the qualities of the former, not the latter.
Here are 5 tips on how to pick ‘em well.
Timing Matters
Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for the pretty girl’s number. Say something early before someone else catches her attention.
Likewise, many event coordinators wait too long to seek vendors. What they fail to realize is that good vendors are booked often and can’t always squeeze your event into their schedule at a moment’s notice.
Start seeking your vendor early so they can get a chance to clear their schedule and accept your date request. You never know, it could lead to another one.
Make Sure They Represent You Well
There’s nothing like an odd couple. They stand out like a sore thumb as soon as you see them and their interaction is just weird.
When it comes to vendors, don’t be the odd couple. Find vendors that share your values and vision, ones you would be proud to take home to your “family.”
Your vendor should be able to represent who you are when you are not available during the event. Make sure you’re comfortable with how they would do that.
Attitude Over Looks
Ladies love the bad guy. He’s carefree, handsome, and usually has a great body. But, the good guy usually has a better attitude, is more creative, and actually cares about who you are as a person.
Events are not about what looks good on paper. They are about the experience you want your audience to leave with and talk about long after it’s over.
Choose the vendor that will be more pleasant to work with, someone who cares about your event goals and will be dedicated to making it a memorable experience for all attendees.
Reputation Matters
SUITS character Harvey Specter once said, “Hustle until you no longer have to introduce yourself.” Not all of your vendors may be well known, but someone should be able to vouch for their work.
Ask around.
Read reviews and testimonials.
Make sure you know who you’re getting in bed with – literally.
They Need To Fit In With The Family
Remember when I said you should be able to bring your vendor home to your “family”? Well, that wasn’t only to assess their first impression. As in any relationship, if things work out there are going to be more interactions and you need to know it won’t cause friction because they’re around.
Vendors need to fit in with your family, in this case, your other staff members. It’s not only awkward when they don’t, but it can also sabotage your event.
Vet your vendors thoroughly to determine if their persona would compliment that of your already existing team.
Whether assessing a relationship or event, who you bring into your personal space is paramount to keeping your sense of self and sanity.
It’s not possible to know everything about vendors before you work with them, but you should also try not pick any random person from off the street.
Timing, Representation, Attitude, Reputation, and Family Fit are just some of the ways to select the best vendor for your event. Whether you use these metrics or others, making informed decisions will greatly benefit you. Your event will be much better if you choose your vendors wisely.
Just like any business, a successful event requires a system. The quicker you understand the process to...
Just like any business, a successful event requires a system. The quicker you understand the process to creating your magical events, the quicker you hit your success streak, get more clients and understand how to build a career in events.
Here’s a free event system guide to help plan your next event:
Develop Event Strategy: “What type of event are you planning?”
Create event budget detailing expenses for venue, entertainment, catering, marketing, staffing and miscellaneous projections
Create action plan for event detailing logistics for event timeline (i.e. 6 weeks for sponsorship, 2 weeks venue scouting 1 week vendor search, etc.)
Create strategic partnership opportunities by identifying possible brand activations
Develop vendor management process:
Draft contracts if applicable
Set up corresponding email copy
Set up payment methods
Monetize event by identifying additional revenue streams in each city (i.e. selling ads, selling vendor tables for companies in attendance, etc.)
Confirm Funding: “Who’s funding the event?”
Analyze potential funding options and cash on hand
Seek sponsorship and/or outside investment if applicable
Confirm Venue: “Where is the best location for this event?”
Research unique venue options within budget; try tools like Peerspace or Airbnb
Confirm venue layout, AV needs; furniture needs; lighting needs; sound needs; parking information; wheelchair accessibility; setup and curfews
Create emergency exit routes if applicable
Confirm Vendors: “Who are your event partners?”
Identify events needs (i.e. DJ, host, speakers, dance, catering etc.) and book on Vendorspace
Example: Confirm catering including but not limited to food items, cutlery, delivery method, etc.
Also confirm event staffing needs and/or volunteers for event day management
Coordinate vendor delivery method (i.e. picked up at what time, dropped off at what time, set up, etc.)
Manage vendor communications pre, during and post-event (A new feature coming to Vendorspace next month!)
Create Event Brand Kit: “What does your event look like?
Create event look and feel with an event logo from our event market
Create flyers for each city, sponsorship deck, social media ad templates and event handouts (i.e. program booklet, way finder, etc.) when applicable
Create merchandise designs
Set Up Marketing Campaigns: “How will you automate event marketing?”
Work with your marketing team to begin traditional marketing (i.e. street promotions, flyer distribution and social media blasts)
Leverage social capital by partnering with brands that compliment the event for promotion
Work with media outlets (i.e. radios, blogs, tvs, etc) to announce event
Set up campaign content in email management system
Schedule emails and social media content for event duration
Event Day Management: “How are you managing the event schedule?”
Manage day of logistics for the event; including but not limited to:
Set up
Decorations
AV Testing/Soundcheck
Delivery & Pick ups
Registration
Stage Management (control flow of show)
Breakdown
Delegate above tasks to staff and volunteers
Post Event Management: “How do you keep in touch with attendees?”
Thank you notes to participants and vendors to nurture long-term relationships
Share event recap and photos with media outlets
This system will give you a good foundation for building events. What else would you add to your event system?
If you've ever heard of The Art of Metanoia, then you know this woman has curated a...
If you’ve ever heard of The Art of Metanoia, then you know this woman has curated a special event that celebrates art and culture. We caught up with Auriella Oates, the founder of The Art of Metanoia to understand how she got started and what she’s learned along the way. Check it out here:
This year, The Art of Metanoia celebrates 3 years! To learn more about their upcoming events, visit their website at: https://www.theartofmetanoia.com/.
Events suck. Or at least that’s how I felt after planning a baby “Fyre Festival”. After 8...
Events suck. Or at least that’s how I felt after planning a baby “Fyre Festival”. After 8 years of producing events, my first festival flopped and I lost everything.
First, let’s set the scene: I was a 25 year-old event producer with my own production company that I launched straight out of college. (another risky move, but we’ll save that for another day) By now, I had quite a few successful events & concerts under my belt. I’m all about challenging myself so it only made sense (in my mind) to raise the bar and do a festival.
I had become obsessed with Woodstock. Watched all the documentaries, lost footage, interviews…I just knew I was the chosen one to create a modern day woodstock. So I set out to change the game: I had the perfect theme, perfect venue, perfect price and perfect line up so by default, it should have been the perfect event right? Right…..
But that didn’t happen at all. It was more like this:
Well not as bad but still…not as great either from an event planner’s perspective. The Event Gods probably would have graded this an E for embarrassing.
After 2 years of recovering, I can finally come out of hibernation and share 8 lessons I learned:
Start small.
The dreams of recreating woodstock could have been traded in for a small mock event. Don’t get me wrong, we pulled over 2,000 people but in a venue that could hold over 10,000, it looked like ants on a farm. Smaller events are easier to manage, have a higher success rate, less expenses & less headache! Whether it’s your first event or first festival, start on the small scale so you can easily validate the idea and grow from there. Afterall, Coachella was once a small concept in someone’s mind that grew over the years.
Get more than enough sponsorship.
Cash rules everything around….us. (Don’t worry, I know the real lyrics) While I wish charm could pay some bills, it definitely doesn’t. Its cool to get a few supporters but the key to successful event planning is to spend other people’s money wisely. If you were only able to bag one sponsor, clap for yourself and postpone the event until you finish fundraising. Sure ticket sales can cover the rest of your expenses but it’s always best to walk into your event with all expenses paid so ticket sales are all profit. We were lucky to get a few supporters but quickly turned to investors when we saw we didn’t have enough money. Wrong move. Event sponsors exist for a reason. Find them & use them. No matter how long it takes, hustle for sponsorship. Lesson: Get more than enough sponsors and if you fall short, stop while you’re not ahead.
Find vendors that work with you and not for you.
There’s a very fine line between vendors and partners. Vendors are the key to any event so it’s extremely important you find quality vendors that understand the bigger picture. You don’t want to just hire a DJ, you want to work with them. What do they need to make this the greatest performance ever and in turn will thrill your audience? Don’t just sell vendor booths, identify and target vendors that your audience will love; work with them to make their stations interactive to boost sales and keep your audience talking long after the event. Don’t just focus on your event, focus on vendors too. I wish vendorspace were around during this time, to help identify quality vendors.
Align with those that believe in your mission.
This is a team effort…don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. From sponsors to venue to vendors, we are all in this together because everyone’s reputation is on the line. Have a meeting, or 7, and really layout your goals. Everyone plays a role in the success of your event, don’t let one person’s greed ruin it. We found ourselves partnering with people to add more “hype” to the event but not enough “value.” Wrong move #2. Our company was dedicated to creating cool events for social change (which will soon be resurrected), but people were more drawn to the ‘cool event’ than the ‘social change.’ Stick to your mission and find those [sponsors, entertainment, vendors, etc.] to ride with you.
Trust your gut.
It’s your vision. No one else really understands it like you do. If you’re not comfortable with something change it & always go with your intuition first. Good intentions bad decisions can easily be avoided by trusting your gut. There were plenty of signs that told me to throw in the towel but decisions were clouded by the momentum and success of our marketing. We had the streets buzzing only to regret ever opening those doors. We put way too much pressure on ourselves to make sure the event still happened.
Have a team….and trust them.
You will eliminate half the stress (well maybe not half but at least a quarter) if you simply get a team! We needed permits, staging, police, security, port-a-potties, lighting and the list goes on and on and on… and on. Your list may not be half as long but get people to help. People who know what they’re doingnot recruiting your friends (huge difference!) and allow them to do their jobs. It will alleviate a lot of unwanted chaos.
Don’t force it.
I know — “It must happen now.” But then again, it actually doesn’t have to. Sometimes it’s best to pivot even in mid motion. Never be afraid of change even if it means cancelling the day of. It may not be the most popular decision but you know best. If things are not flowing organically and there are too many roadblocks, maybe you should pull back and re-strategize but never feel that it has to happen. The world isn’t stopping today, you can host your event another day.
Get over it.
The unfortunate truth is shit happens. Just as with any business, sometimes you lose. The quicker you embrace failure, the better. Don’t sulk around counting your losses. You may be wasting time neglecting another great idea. Admit it, address it, accept it and move on. This failure led me to my new venture so I sincerely hope you fail faster than you soar.
This was the best, worst thing that ever happened to me. It was a game changer in my life and career. But as I look back, I wouldn’t change a thing. At least I had the opportunity to share 8 things I learned to stop you from going down the same path.
What are some things you learned from an embarrassing mistake or failure in your life?
So your co-worker just started playing her holiday playlist, and five minutes later you find out that...
So your co-worker just started playing her holiday playlist, and five minutes later you find out that you’re in charge of planning your job’s holiday party. Your only experience with planning parties was for your niece’s 2nd birthday. What do you do? Well, fear not, Vendorspace has you covered.
In three simple steps, you can plan your corporate party!
Step 1: Visit www.stagingsvs.com
Step 2: Sign up as an event organizer.
Step 3: Search for your vendors.
Suggested vendors for a corporate party:
DJ: You’re going to want great music to get the party started. Sure you can rely on your Tidal playlist, but there’s nothing like a good ole fashion hype man.
Caterer: Good food can make or break your party. The rule of thumb is if there will be alcohol, then you should have food.
Photobooth: Usually the purpose of a corporate party is to create a team bonding experience while also allowing everyone to feel more comfortable than usual. A photo booth helps to capture the experience while also sharing the fun on social media.
Planning a party for the holidays? Tag @joinvendorspace in your pics on social media!
July 2, 2018 Just outside of Vendorspace’s Eventology, there stood a a bike, with a black cooler...
July 2, 2018
Just outside of Vendorspace’s Eventology, there stood a a bike, with a black cooler tied to the front and a crate proclaiming the name Kea Beverages on the back. Today there were three main beverages on the menu, each made with fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Watermelon, mint and lime, orange, pineapple, and carrot, and finally blackberry, thyme, and lemonade, were the ingredients that made up the three beverages that were that day. Eagerly saying to those passing by, “come on try some!”, they were able to encourage almost everyone at the event to try out their great beverages.
The team of Keaton Hong and Sean Keating were the ones who were able to provide these great beverages for those who were at the event. After the event I was a able to ask some questions about their venture as being vendors. “it was something that we loved to”, stated Keaton ,with Sean looking on in agreement, “trying out different combinations” was also something that they found compelling in being a beverage vendor. The love and passion that they two have for this venture is easily seen. This passion would also come along with several learning points, as Sean would go on to state,” I have learned a lot about beverages since starting.” With this he was able to explain the various processesof making the drinks, how they go about storing them, and even to the health benefits that each ingredient contains for the drinker.
For the future, the two stated they would hope to expand their business venture, and would eventually like to sell their products in store. Saying this, the two stated that they were also able to get a local cafe to sell their beverages. In the future I hope these two will expand, With a great product, these two have the potential to become a great staple in the culture of Atlanta. In closing, if you ever get the chance to run into Keaton and Sean, making sure that you are able to get one of their great Kea beverages.
Hey Vendorspace Family! Happy 2019! Last year was quite the ride for us. We were focused...
Hey Vendorspace Family!
Happy 2019! Last year was quite the ride for us. We were focused on finding our position in the market and building out our platform (which is coming very very soon!) We even received an award in Cali! ( Can you believe our little startup is making noise!? ha!). Here’s our top 5 favorite moments from 2018:
1. Atlanta Tech Edge TV Segment
2. Named 2018 Female TechTrender at FestForums in Santa Barbara
3. Hangin’ out with the team
4. ATV It Takes A Village Graduation
5. Kicking off Eventology with the local event community
It’s such a blessing to see the growth of the company. Thank you to everyone that has ever mentioned us to a friend, referred us to an opportunity or simply googled us and signed up on the spot. We wouldn’t have made it this far with your support.
There’s so much lined up for the year! We have more great events and partnerships to be announced in the coming weeks.
The world is full of unique vendors, especially Atlanta! Every week, we’ve decided to highlight some...
The world is full of unique vendors, especially Atlanta! Every week, we’ve decided to highlight some of our favorite vendors right here in the city. Doesn’t matter the size of your event, these are people you should know — they’ll definitely make your next event one to remember!
This week, we’re highlighting YummY’s Funnel Cakes. The fact that we don’t have to wait for a carnival to get our hands on these yummy treats makes them our favorite food truck right now! Check out our interview below:
What’s your name? What’s the name of your business?
My name is Keyania Richardson, I’m the owner of YummY’s Funnel Cakes Food Truck
When did you decide to become a full-time vendor?
I decided to become a full-time vendor in May of 2015
Name one thing you love about vending and one thing you hate about vending.
One thing I love about vending is having customers come to my window with so much excitement because they’re about to have something that they love. One thing I hate is the winter season when vending days slow down because of the weather.
What has been your favorite event so far?
My favorite event thus far has been the concerts at Cellaris Amphitheater at Lakewood. Not only did we get to serve 1000’s of customers, we got to hear some of my favorite artist preform.
What’s your dream event to vend at?
My dream event involves tons of happy people and music. Vending at an event like Coachella would be a dream!
Where can we find you? (website, social media, next event, etc.)
YummY’s Funnel Cakes Food Truck can be found at: yummysfunnelcakes.com or instagram.com/yummysfunnelcakes
For Booking: facebook.com/yummysfunnelcakes
You can find us at YOUR event, book us today!
Catch them around the city at an event near you! Trust me, you’ll thank us later!
Events can be expensive. When you’re aiming to please, there’s nothing you won’t consider for your guest...
Events can be expensive. When you’re aiming to please, there’s nothing you won’t consider for your guest experience. But the price that comes with it will make you think twice.
However, there is a way to be creative and save money. Here’s 3 hacks to try for your next event:
Cancel decorations and book an art vendor.
Traditional decorations are cute but you can elevate your event experience by working with an art vendor to transform your space into an art gallery. Strategically place pieces around the venue to give a high end vibe to your event. Best part, its a win-win situation. The vendor gets to display and sell their work.
Turn your buffet into tasting stations.
Let’s face it, a buffet or even plated dinners can be a waste sometimes. Skip the heavy 4-course meals and opt for small plates with samples from your favorite food vendors. You’ll literally cut your catering budget in half. (L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y!)
Use “unavailable” space for your venue.
Dont tell them you heard it from us but it is possible to get really cheap space for your next event. With a little research, you’d be surprised to know you can rent abandoned warehouses or spaces for sale. Create a new ambiance for guests with a rustic, vintage vibe. If that doesn’t workout for you, try our friends at Peerspace for affordable venues. You can definitely save a buck or two with them as well.
![28 Black-Owned Vendors You Should Work With [FULL LIST]](https://stagingsvs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/zach-vessels-3cL8tlttW70-unsplash-1024x576-1.webp)
The team of Keaton Hong and Sean Keating were the ones who were able to provide these great beverages for those who were at the event. After the event I was a able to ask some questions about their venture as being vendors. “it was something that we loved to”, stated Keaton ,with Sean looking on in agreement, “trying out different combinations” was also something that they found compelling in being a beverage vendor. The love and passion that they two have for this venture is easily seen. This passion would also come along with several learning points, as Sean would go on to state,” I have learned a lot about beverages since starting.” With this he was able to explain the various processes
